Industrial Reporter NICK WHITTEN joins the great and good aboard the QE2 during her historic visit to Tyneside.

A CENTURY apart, the two most famous ships in the world left the Tyne.

The QE2 slipped quietly out into the North Sea last night, exactly 100 years after the Swan Hunter-built Mauretania left Tyneside for the first time.

On September 17, 1907, the Mauretania left her spiritual home on Tyneside to become the pride of the sea-faring world by holding the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossing for 22 years.

Yesterday the QE2 – the world’s fastest and most famous ocean liner – left after an overnight stop on Tyneside to celebrate her 40th birthday.

An estimated 50,000 people lined the banks of the Tyne on Sunday to welcome the 963ft-long liner.

And yesterday the region’s great and good were wined and dined at a celebratory lunch to mark what is the QE2’s first visit to the Tyne, despite clocking up 5.5 million nautical miles.

She has sailed more than any ship in history, having travelled the equivalent of the moon and back 13 times.

The dignitaries were also treated a tour of the 70,000-ton ocean liner that, contrary to popular belief, is not the world’s most luxurious, but certainly the most famous.

It was like stepping back in time with 1960s decor at every turn, including a theatre, a grand lounge, shops and even a branch of the famous London department store Harrods.

The QE2’s visit to the Tyne was particularly emotional for the ship’s captain Ian McNaught, who lives in Washington.

He celebrated his 20th anniversary of working for the QE2’s owner Cunard by captaining her on her maiden voyage down his hometown river.

And his wife Sue and son Steven joined him for the ride. Capt McNaught said: “I am really proud to have brought the QE2 here.

“The number of people who turned out and the welcome we received was tremendous.”

Brian and Jean Dixon, of Chester-le-Street, booked to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary aboard the QE2, but realised they had their dates wrong and are actually celebrating their 51st anniversary.

The couple are enjoying an eight-day trip around Britain, having boarded in Southampton on Saturday.

Brian, 72, said: “I was choked when we arrived at the Tyne and saw all the people on the banks of the river.

“Everybody said it was like war time.”

Jean, 71, added: “All the staff on board said it was best welcome they had ever had.”

For those who weren’t able to line the banks of the Tyne for the arrival of the QE2 this weekend, there will be another chance to see her on October 8 and 9, next year. But that will be one of her last ports of call before she sets sail for Dubai in November, 2008, to become a hotel.

Capt McNaught added: “I would think I will move on to work on either the Queen Mary 2 or the Queen Victoria.

“There will be a great sadness when the QE2 retires.

“There is a huge amount of loyalty to her.”

:: To book to travel on the QE2 call Connoisseur Cruising on 0845 1300 788 or e-mail enquiries@ connoisseur-cruising.co.uk